No matter where you are, storing water inside your car is an excellent idea. You probably keep other survival items in your vehicle, such as a bag to get you home if you’re like me.The most essential survival item is water.
Preppers make mistakes when they store their water without any thought. The extreme temperature or the constant jarring of water can cause water bottles, bladders, jugs, and canisters to break.
The devil lies in the detail, just like with any aspect of preparation.
Today’s post will give you an overview of how and why to keep water in your car for emergency situations. I’ll also tell you how and where to store the water.Grab the water, I have the keys! Let’s go!
Why you should keep water in your vehicle
Water is essential to have in your car for several reasons. You can use it to drink in the event that you are stranded along the way or arrive at a location with contaminated water.
In survival situations, dehydration can be fatal. You’ll feel severely dehydrated long before death, which could hamper your efforts to stay alive.
You never know when someone else may need water. If you keep clean water available, then you can act as a good Samaritan.
Purified, clean water can be used in a variety of medical situations. Bottled water can be used to cool burns, soothe wounds and flush eyes.
I agree that distilled water would be the best option for these purposes, but unopened, clean bottled water comes in second. You can’t beat bottled water or tap water.
If your radiator leaks, use some water or coolant in an emergency. This will help you to get your vehicle to the place you need to repair or service it.
What Effects Does Temperature Have on Water in Vehicles?
When storing water in your car, you need to keep in mind a few things, particularly if you are living in a climate that is cold or preparing for an upcoming cold winter.
The water freezes. It’s obvious, right? When water freezes it also expands. This means that containers will be blown if there is not enough room for it to grow.
It will cause a lot of trouble when the car interior and trunk are soaked.
Even though a container with some space for water expansion may be frozen, the contents will remain intact.
How do you keep water cool in hot weather? Some preppers worry about this, mainly because of the chemicals that are leached into water by plastic when it gets hot.
Even bottled water from the grocery store will not release harmful chemicals when heated, at least in a significant amount that could harm you.
No, I am not making any declarations regarding long-term consumption of potential chemical contaminants. But a hot sealed water bottle you take out of your trunk at the end of August will be safe, even if it is unpalatable.
You can store water in three different ways: the cabin, the trunk or on racks outside the vehicle.
Both methods have their merits, however only those vehicles equipped with external racks are able to use the second method.
Trunk Storage
Water is often stored in your trunk with your survival kit.
A sedan’s or SUV’s trunk is large enough to fit a survival kit, a recovery kit for your vehicle and even a case of small water. There will still be room for other items like groceries.
Keep your water in this place to reduce the risk that it could become a rocket if there is a collision at high speed. Although the concept of flying bottles of water in an accident might sound silly, it is very dangerous due to the amount of water contained in the container.
You should keep a few things in mind if you decide to store your water in the car trunk.
Always secure the water with a bungee cord, cargo net or straps to prevent it from sliding around, which could cause a puncture or damage its seals.
Consider that the trunk of your vehicle will get hotter or colder much quicker than its insulated interior.
This will not make a difference in areas where it is very hot or cold. But, in zones with a more moderate climate, merely a few degree difference can be the difference between ice-cold water and water that’s ready to drink right away.
Cabin Storage
Water can also be stored in the passenger compartment or cabin of your car. It works well, but there are a couple of caveats. It is obvious that storing more than a couple of bottles of water in the vehicle’s cabin will take up valuable space.
As mentioned earlier, any object that isn’t secured in the car cabin during an accident can turn into a deadly missile and cause serious injury to the passengers.
The momentum of a heavy water jug, or a case of water launched with speed is enough to cause serious injury.
When storing water in your vehicle, you should pay close attention to where it is placed. Accidentally closing the car door onto a case of water or jug can cause it to rupture.
Some people store water bottles under the seat to keep them away from direct sunlight and out of their way. They will always learn their mistake when someone adjusts the chair, crushing bottles underneath.
The water will provide better insulation.
Water in the car’s cabin does not freeze as fast as it would if kept outside or in the trunk.
Water can be kept in the trunk of your vehicle. There are some times that you may want to move it into the cabin. But, overall, you will do better keeping the water there.
External Storage
You can store large amounts of water in vehicles with special can holders or external racks, giving you more room for other items or passengers.
This is the perfect solution if you are concerned about carrying large quantities of water or moving large amounts of cargo.
There are two options: you can strap jugs of water or cases to the external racks with nets and tie-down straps, just like any other cargo. Or you can attach special cans for water to holders.
Water bottles can be easily secured with the first method, but they may vibrate if you do not take care.
Cans are a more specific method of externally storing water in your car. The water carrying cans look like old-fashioned gasoline Jerry cans, but they’re lined with a special material and are only meant to carry water.
It shouldn’t be necessary to say this, but never use a container that was previously used for gasoline or any other type of fuel for carrying water. Don’t even think about it.
These cans are designed to fit in holders and racks that will safely and securely transport them across the roughest terrain without damage or risk. Spare tire mounted containers are another alternative for some SUVs or trucks.
The specialty container is usually mounted behind or infront of the spare wheel on the reargate. It can carry up to several gallons and still leave space for other cargo inside the car and out.
Carrying water in the car increases your vulnerability to theft and the weather.
Wind strips the heat from anything outside of your car.
If your car is not protected and people are able to see it, there’s a good chance someone may try to steal it.
You may not have to worry about this if you’re overlanding, or planning a bug-out since you won’t be leaving the vehicle. But you shouldn’t think that you can leave water outside on your car while going through your daily routine in public.
Containers for Internal Storage
There are a couple of options for storing drinking water in your car. This will come down to personal preference. However, each option has its own advantages and disadvantages that you need to be aware of.
Multipack of Bottled Water
The case is less space-efficient than a large container. It will require more room in order to transport the same volume of water.
Redundancy is important. You can only open one bottle of the entire supply at once, ensuring that it remains safe and free from germs.
A bottle of water is not the same as a whole water supply or the ability to transport it. This is the most practical option for vehicles with extra space.
Water Jugs
These larger bottles of water are not only more space efficient, they are also more vulnerable and heavier than the multipacks.
You will have to carry a heavy container if you want to walk with your water. It could weigh more than ten pounds. The water is at risk if the bottle breaks or leaks.
If you have a cracked bottle, it’s okay to throw the whole case away. These larger jugs will work if your car is small or you want to fit as much in as possible.
Refillable Containers
There are many different sizes and shapes of refillable containers, from Nalgene’s ubiquitous liter bottles to the 5-gallon rectangles that can be stacked and arranged flat.
The containers can be used for multiple purposes, are refillable and reusable, and you can reseal water once you have taken what you require. They are also far more durable and long-lasting than disposable bottles of water.
The water in the containers will start to smell a bit funny, even if you have cleaned and sanitized them thoroughly. Factory bottled water won’t do this, or will at least take a lot longer.
You can extend the life of your water container by carefully and cautiously adding unscented bleach or stabilizers. But that’s the price to pay to have a reusable, durable, and long-lasting container.
You’ll need to stay on top of the situation and regularly refill your reusable water container.
It’s possible that the layer of algal scum on water that appears after it has been left in a trunk over summer, is not harmful. It is a disgusting substance and you’ll have a hard time getting your family members to drink it.
What Is Filtration?
I’m not sure why most prepper don’t have a portable water filter in their car survival kit, since they either use factory-purified water that is sealed and/or loaded into their (hopefully sterile) own containers.
Although this reasoning may seem reasonable, it could be a risky one.
Even though bottled water may be clean, it is not impossible that water stored for long periods of time could develop bacteria or other microorganisms. If you are filling your own containers with water, this is a major concern.
Don’t forget to include a water filter in your emergency kit if you have any concerns about this.
These devices can be used to remove microorganisms and algae. Examples include the sawyer mini, and lifestraw. It’s also a good idea to keep a water filter on hand, regardless of the circumstances.
Keep Your Water From Freezing
For all of the above reasons, if you keep water in your car and it freezes that is much worse than if it gets hot. You should therefore take steps to prevent it from freezing.
Know the climate and weather where you live. Some seasons, you will not have to think about it at all. It’s a problem for some people every day of the year.
You need to be aware of the dangers and how much you are willing to push your vehicle before your water freezes in it.
Here are some methods that you can use to maintain your water’s liquid state or at least to prolong its liquid status when your vehicle isn’t running. Combine one or more of the methods below to ensure that your water remains liquid for as long as you can.
Wrap it
Water that is wrapped in blankets, or in an emergency survival blanket, will stay liquid for longer. Wrapping it more will help it stay liquid for longer.
One caution: Your container must be durable with good seals, if you plan to use the emergency blanket that would normally serve as a warm-up.
You will also have to deal with a soggy blanket if your container breaks or leaks water.
The second method is to use a cooler
Cooler? What?! Was I wrong? Now, let’s calm down. The cooler is a container that has been insulated. The coolers can only maintain cold temperatures if the temperature inside is also cold.
If you put something into a coolant at room temperature, it will be more resistant to sudden drops in temperatures than if left out.
Your water can be placed in an insulated container from any brand, as long as the size and shape fit. It will remain liquid for a much longer period of time than if you were to leave it in your trunk or cabin.
This method is not recommended for large containers. It may be necessary to use a larger cooler depending on the amount of water that you plan to store.
The third method is to keep it in your cabin
The better the insulation in your car’s interior is, the more water you will be able to store. This includes the trunk as well as external storage.
You might want to move the water to the cabin during the coldest temperatures.
If you anticipate a temperature drop, you may want to move water into your cabin before the temperatures fall.
Thawing Frozen Water
Frozen water will be an everyday occurrence for those who are living in extreme cold or have to deal with harsh winters. Chances are, that no matter what preparation you make, your vehicle’s water will eventually freeze.
You don’t need to panic about this. If you’re a prepper, you will be ready for any situation with a variety of methods.
You can choose from a variety of methods depending on the speed at which you want to get liquid water.
The Heater Can Be Run Using Option 1
You can keep water near floorboard vents in your car if you’re stuck and the vehicle still works. The water will quickly thaw.
Option 2 – Hand/Foot Heaters
In the winter, I always keep foot and hand warmers with my car survival kit. You can wrap up a hand warmer and place it near a bottle of frozen water. It will quickly thaw.
Stove Option 3
You can add the ice chunks to any small cup or pot that is able to handle the heat of your stove.
You’ll melt the ice in mere seconds by cranking that thing up. You can also use a road flare or a metal pot to create a stove. Do all of these things outside!
The conclusion of the article is:
It is smart to keep a container of water in your car as part of a survival kit. You may need water for a variety of reasons, not only to drink.
Keeping water in a vehicle is all about knowing how to do it intelligently. This article will help you to put a few gallons of water in your vehicle so that you are prepared for the road.